What we learned; Wednesday, 19 February
With that, we will bid adieu to the blog for the evening.
Thanks for joining us, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow for all the latest. Until then, here were todays largest developments:
The South Australian government has placed the Whyalla steelworks into administration. The Australian Workers Union has strongly backed government intervention to secure the future of the Whyalla steelworks and its workforce, describing it as a “critical pillar” of Australian industry.
A woman will face court charged over allegedly Islamophobic attacks on two women at a shopping centre, as one of the alleged victims says she remains terrified.
Queensland’s treasurer has announced an outlook downgrade for the state government budget in state parliament.
Wages growth continues to decelerate, AAP reports, falling to 3.2% in 2024 and adding to the case for more interest rate cuts.
Network Ten has breached gambling advertising rules by airing four gambling ads during the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the broadcasting watchdog has found.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action in the federal court against the CFMEU and its former Victorian secretary, John Setka.
The mining billionaire Clive Palmer launched his new political venture a week after losing a high court bid to reregister the United Australia party (UAP) ahead of the federal election, with a rebranded Trumpet of Patriots party to contest the upcoming poll.
And members of the CFMEU stormed the offices of the Queensland Council of Unions in advance of a rally at parliament house on Wednesday.
Updated
Members of the Cfmeu stormed the offices of the Queensland Council of Unions in advance of a rally at parliament house on Wednesday.
QCU secretary Jacqueline King said several members of the Cfmeu had begun protesting outside the Trades and Labour Council building in South Brisbane at about 8am to 8.15am.
Despite the building being locked down, three members of the group made their way into the building via fire stairs, she said.
We did have to get security officers to basically calm ... there were quite a few people who were upset internally in different areas of building, and understandably, so we did (employ security and lock the building) to assuage their fears that something else would happen.
King said the event was not organised by the Building Trades Group of unions, which organised the rally later that morning.
